A beautiful day begins with jam and bread. Summer and Thwackey were about to enjoy their breakfast when a sudden knock sounded at the door.
Who would be knocking at this time? If it were Aya and the others, they would have just walked in.
"Please wait a moment." Summer put down his bread and walked to the wooden door. Upon opening it, he found a middle-aged man in a suit standing outside.
The man stood straight, with neat short hair, a smile on his face, a briefcase in hand, and a sharp look in his eyes that only a businessman would have.
"Nice to meet you. Here's my business card." The middle-aged man took out a black business card with gold embroidery from his chest pocket.
Summer accepted it and slowly read the words on the card:
"Chairman Warren Dining, Warren?"
"That's me. May I come in?" Warren asked politely.
Not knowing the man's purpose, Summer decided to treat him as a guest and invited him in.
Warren glanced around the room and finally fixed his eyes on the jam jar on the table.
"Jam, may I have a taste? I used to be a chef, so I'm very interested."
"Sure, go ahead."
"Thank you."
Warren placed his briefcase on the table and took out a long box. He opened it to reveal a silver spoon.
Holding the silver spoon, Warren gently scooped out half a spoonful of jam, sniffed it, observed its color, and then put it in his mouth. He closed his eyes to savor it and after a moment, reluctantly said, "Delicious."
"Ah, is this the source of your confidence?"
Warren's words left Summer puzzled. Confidence? Whose confidence?
"Sorry for talking to myself. You know Gideon, right? He's my father."
The man's words suddenly triggered Summer's memory. Gideon had mentioned having a son who inherited his skills and moved to a big city, doing well now.
"You do know him. The ingredients for this jam come from Sunset Forest, right? So why, as a ranger, do you allow the townspeople to pick the berries?" Warren questioned suddenly.
Warren's change in attitude made Summer realize he was not a friendly guest. Since that was the case, there was no need to be overly polite.
"Mr. Warren, if you think you can intimidate me with that, you're too naive. It doesn't violate the ranger's code. I remember it very clearly." Summer pointed to his head, standing his ground.
"Hmph, it seems you have the basics of being a ranger. Let me put it another way. The berry trees in Sunset Forest can't sustain such consumption from Spikemuth. What will the Pokémon in the forest eat then? Isn't it the ranger's duty to protect the Pokémon living in the forest?"
"When was the last time you visited Sunset Forest? The number of berry trees has increased significantly. Anyway, you live in the big city and wouldn't know." Summer implied that Warren, an outsider, had no right to criticize him, a ranger.
Warren couldn't refute. He hadn't been to Sunset Forest in at least twenty years. Seeing that a hard approach wouldn't work, he quickly switched tactics, playing the family card.
"I just want my father to rest. He's been strong all his life and should take it easy now."
"I have the means to give him a perfect retirement, which is better than guarding a town with no future, right?"
"So, Mr. Ranger, stop indulging my father's unrealistic plans. How can berries save a town without Gigantamax?"
Warren's tone grew agitated, his fists clenched, losing the gentlemanly demeanor he had before.
"But Mr. Gideon is the one who wants Spikemuth's revival the most. Do you know what your father really wants?" Summer asked.
"Of course. He's stubborn and unyielding. Seeing the town he lived in all his life decline, he feels guilty and wants to save it? Don't be ridiculous. It's not his fault!"
"I can't comment on the conflict between you and your father, but this plan involves the whole town of Spikemuth. I won't stop assisting with it," Summer said resolutely.
"Is reviving Spikemuth really a good thing? More people will mean more destruction to the forest. Why make your peaceful job more troublesome?"
"You don't need to worry about that. As a ranger, I've considered it." Summer paused and then added, "Besides, I initiated this plan. Asking me to deny my own plan is impossible."
"You! Are you not a native of Spikemuth? Why are you meddling in their affairs?" Warren was puzzled.
"Maybe I was moved by their passion to revive the town."
Marnie, Aya, Tim, Nayo, Gideon, Piers, and all the Yell Team—they're all trying to save this declining town in their own ways. It's hard not to want to help.
"Whatever an outsider does won't be acknowledged. This town is more xenophobic than you think!" Warren spread his hands, staring straight at Summer.
"And you? Have you ever cared about Spikemuth? What gives you the right to deny their efforts?" Summer countered.
"Honestly, I think you're wasting your talent as a ranger. You should be a lawyer." Warren, having all his arguments refuted, pulled out his trump card: money, the most effective tool in the world.
"Money. If you abandon the plan, I'll give you a satisfactory amount. Rangers don't earn much, right? This is a promise from the chairman of a global restaurant chain. Give up." Warren waved a check from his briefcase.
"Think about it. This is more money than you'll ever make. What can't you do with it? For example, why not replace your weak Pokémon with a stronger one?"
"Thwackey is unique." Summer's cold gaze made even the seasoned businessman Warren freeze for a moment. This gaze reminded him of shadows buried deep in his memory.
Summer turned to the cabinet, opened a drawer, and made a grabbing motion. He then returned to the table and placed five Pearly Orbs on it, their silver glow filling the room.
"I don't lack money. Please leave. Sunset Forest doesn't welcome you."
"Roar!"
The usually silent Thwackey also roared. It disliked the man in front of it. Since Summer had issued the order to leave, there was no need to hold back.
Warren frowned. The Pearly Orbs were the most beautiful jewels he had ever seen, and five of them could fetch far more than his highest offer. Was this guy the son of some rich tycoon playing ranger out of interest?
"But!"
"You think Mr. Gideon is stubborn and unyielding. Aren't you the same, Warren?"
"Are you competing with your father? Do you want his recognition? Telling him you've achieved more in the dining industry, but he only focuses on Spikemuth and never acknowledges your achievements?"
"Ah, can you read minds?" Warren loosened his tie and smiled genuinely for the first time. So what if he wanted his father's recognition!
Unleashing his buried emotions, Warren felt an unprecedented sense of relief, more satisfying than any of his business achievements.
"Let's battle. No more talking, just fighting. Show me your proud Pokémon, shall we?!" He shed his previous gentlemanly facade, revealing his true passionate self.
"Fine, let's go. I'll show you Thwackey's strength."
(End of this chapter)